Team Valor Aims for American Oaks With German Filly

(from Hollywood Park notes)Team Valor has purchased German stakes winner La Ina and is pointing her for her United States debut in the $700,000 American Oaks (gr. I) on July 3 at Hollywood Park if she is invited, according to president Barry Irwin.

La Ina won the Kolner Fruhjahrs Stuten Preis in Koln (Cologne) on April 12. The 3-year-old filly is scheduled to make her next start in the German One Thousand Guineas on May 9 for trainer Andreas Trybuhl. Then she would tentatively return in the German Oaks before being shipped to the United States and transferred to trainer Ralph Nicks.

The American Oaks at 1 1/4 miles on turf will be run for the third time and has been afforded grade I status for the first time. Irish invader Dimitrova won the race last year.